ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani on Monday said all institutions should work within the bounds laid down by the constitution as assuming more than one's own due role will set "us back".

Speaking to a group of officers at the General Headquarters, General Kayani said no individual or institution has the monopoly to decide what is right or wrong in defining the ultimate national interest.

The army chief clearly indicated all institutions would work within the constitutional limits and stressed rule of law. "As a nation, we are passing through a defining phase. We are critically looking at the mistakes made in the past and trying to set the course for a better future. An intense discussion and debate is natural in this process. It should emerge only through a consensus, and all Pakistanis have a right to express their opinions. The constitution provides a clear mechanism for it," he added.

An army official, who wished not to be named, confirmed Kayani was responding in part to the Supreme Court judgement, when last month Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry ruled the military must stop interfering in politics, a rare challenge to Pakistan's powerful generals.

"We all have a great responsibility to shoulder. We should learn from our past, try to build the present and keep our eyes set on a better future. We all agree that strengthening the institutions, ensuring the rule of law and working within the well defined bounds of the constitution is the right way forward."

"Weakening of the institutions and trying to assume more than one's due role will set us back. We owe it to the future of Pakistan, to lay correct foundations, today. We should not be carried away by short-term considerations, which may have greater negative consequences in the future," he added.

Kayani said while individual mistakes might have been made by everyone in the country, they should best be left to the due process of law. "As we all are striving for the rule of law, the fundamental principle that no one is guilty until proven should not be forgotten. Let us not pre-judge anyone, be it a civilian or a military person and extend it, unnecessarily, to undermine respective institutions."

General Kayani said the armed forces drew their strength from the bedrock of the public support. National security is meaningless without it. Therefore, any effort that wittingly or unwittingly drives a wedge between the people and the armed forces undermines the larger national interest.

"The integrity and cohesion of the armed forces is essentially based on the trust reposed in them by the people of Pakistan. Strengthening this trust will ensure better security of the country. Equally important is the trust between the leaders and the led of the armed forces. Any effort to create a distinction between the two, undermines the very basis of this concept and is not tolerated, be it Pakistan or any other country."

All systems in Pakistan appear to be in a haste to achieve something, which could have both positive and negative implications, he observed. "Let us take a pause and examine the two fundamental questions: one, are we promoting the rule of law and the constitution? Two, are we strengthening or weakening the institutions? In the ultimate analysis, all of us would have served Pakistan better if history and our future generations judge us positively."

End.

Reader Comments:

“LET US LEARN TO RESPECT,LOVE AND HONOR OUR CHERISHED ARM FORCES”

“LET US LEARN TO RESPECT, LOVE AND HONOR OUR CHERISHED ARM FORCES” Written by AZIZ BHOI
Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani is a brave soldier, generally, General APK keeps his observation on national issue to himself unless is duty-bound either to comment or issues statement through (ISPR). This depend upon the nature and importance of the subject attached to the National Interest .I salute Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and have a high regard for him, as he said that," Any effort to create a divide between the people and Armed Forces undermines Pakistan's larger national interest” . Let me place the reality on record that.” who knows? NATIONAL INTEREST, better than those who are custodian of our National borders. The entire Nation exclusively looks at our beloved Armed Forces when ever Nation is in copious crisis. History of Pakistan has recorded that:- ,”OUR ARMED FORCESS ALWAYS PROVED EQUAL TO THE TASK AT ALL TIME” “LET US LEARN TO RESPECT,LOVE AND HONOR OUR CHERISHED ARM FORCES” STRONG AND POWERFUL ARMED FORCES SIGNIFY A STRONG PAKISTAN Written by:- Aziz Bhoi Distt:-Attock. Presently in USA-Houston

AZIZ BHOI, Pakistan - 06 November, 2012

How can a 12 th grader talk like this"Don't cross the limits".Nowadays when CJ said what he did,it is because times have changed.If military tried to do mischief,people will start to throw sticks,stone,bricks,bottles on the uniformed mafiamen.
Gone are those days when military was respected.

AB, - 06 November, 2012

Yes, No one should cross the limits

Every Pakistani living at home or abroad can smell the internal divisive bickering.The civilian government, the military and the judiciary appears to be the trioka of embroilment. Besides the external forces are trying hard to destabilize the country through all types of intrigues and tricks. And Pakistan's most important geo-strategy in the world today makes the country exposed to possible damage in the newely emerging world order where united Russia and China have stood up(with very solid strength) to challenges involving America.

Under these very trying circumstances, it will be wise for all us Paks to accomodate each other with no infighting or even challenging the authority domains of others.It will be best to see all Pakistan at peace with each other. The nation or Pak people, Pak military, Judiciary and the rulers can all stay at peace with each other.

We have to admit that no one is saint and all parties or institutions are not very clean through corruptions or privileges - authorized or secured through force. On top, robbers and thieves have formed a powerful un- challenged, even co-operated force to rob the other fellow Pak people.

So, no one is clean including judiciary or any one else. But, nothing can damage the country near as bad as big looming war of new world orders (mainly struggle between the west and united Russia- China). The new world order struggle is not only hurting little guys like Pakistan, but it has reached a stage where it could slip us all into all innihilating WW3.

So, let all us Paks try to accomodate each other, stand with each other and our armed forces shoulder to shoulder and try our best to avoid any internal or external forced war or bickerings. These internal bickerings cannot damage us as bad as WW3 or internal armed conflicts will. WW3 will be suicidal for all humanity and let us all stand together with our armed forces to stay out of any partisan acts that can tragically lead us to WW3 and mitigate what leads to WW3.

Anwar Mahmood, Canada - 06 November, 2012

Services response should have been conveyed to the concerned quarters in a discreet manner preferaly through some civilian agency.Going public through press unwittingly may creat a bad blood between the two premier institutions of the country both of which enjoy respect by the people.

sh.mohammad. jamil, Pakistan - 06 November, 2012

All Pakistanis have all respects and love for Army and institution as they are defending the nation at all fronts. Mr Kiyani should have distance from the Corrupt generals as while dealing with civilians in Musharraf era all people know in different departments how the corrupt Generals dealt with the matters with cruelty and dishonesty. They are few and actually harming the Army. These corrupt few ones should be dealt with iron hand even by Army themselves to clear the whole picture. The Nation know their dishonesty while working with WAPDA, NHA, Planning commission, in ministries and etc.

Ahmed, - 06 November, 2012

You are working to increase the hatred against military.The job of military is only to watch the foreign aggression and do
action to counter it.Its speaking and getting involved in national politics bring it hatred.Recent statements of Kiyani are because previously generals were brought to court on accusations.The generals are like any other Paksitani and should reply to allegations as per law but to ask for immunity is totally wrong.If Kiyani kept on talking like this he will find whole nation with CJ.

AB, - 07 November, 2012

Limits

Who sets the limits? Is it the constitution as explained by the apex court or the limits set by the Army HQ?

What do you think about the story ? Leave your comments!

Heading (Optional)

Your Comments: *

Your Name:*

E-mail (Optional):

City (Optional):

Country (Optional):

Field marked(*) are mandatory.
Note. The PakTribune will publish as many comments as possible but cannot guarantee publication of all. PakTribune keeps its rights reserved to edit the comments for reasons of clarity, brevity and morality.
The external links like http:// https:// etc... are not allowed for the time being to be posted inside comments to discourage spammers.